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u^
ICELANDIC — Five Pieces of Runic
Poetry translated from the Island ic Language
by Bishop Percy, Editor of the "Ballads,"
small 8vo, boards, uncut, 6s 6d
London : R. & J. Dodsley, 1763
Cl$3t-^ 4
A^w. € /»f
■ Digitized by VjOOQIC
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i\
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e<rv.Wva-j\ >^'Vb.1\-«l. (>I^~^«';>.<^:e.1'.3.,
Digitized by VjOOQIC
^'"
FIVE PIECES
O F
R UN I C P O E T R Y
Tranflated from the
ISLANDIC LANGUAGE.
IfKlYtCr BHR lip BIHFH
XIR BIHFJlimY flXlHi.
NIFMIH hllh lY nil .
-— Populi, quos defpidt Ardlos^
Felices errore fuo, quos ille timoram
Maximns haiud urget let! mctus : inde rnendi
In ferrum mens prona viris, animdeque capaces
Mortis; et ignavum roditara: parcere vit».
Luc AN.
LONDON: ^
Printed for R* and J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall.
MD CC LXIII.
yGoogk
N..B. ThI^S LITTE tRACT WAS DRAWN
UP FOR THE PRESS IN THE YEAR I761 :
BUT THE PUBLICATION HAS-BEEN DELAY-
ED BY AN ACCIDENT.
ly Google
P R E F A C E.
n^HE ancient inhabitants of the nor^
thern parts of Europe are generally
known under no other character than
that of a hardy and unpolijhed race^ who
fubdued all the fouthern nations by dint .
of courage and of numbers, ^heir^ va--
louTf their ferocity, their contempt of
death f and paffion for liberty, form the
6utlines of the piBure we commonly draw
of them: and if we fometimes revere them
for that generous plan of government
which they every where eftablijhed, we ,
cannot help lamenting that they raifed
the fabric upon the ruins of literature
and the fine arts^
Tet is there one feature of their cha*
raster of a more amiable cajl\ which, tho\
not fo generally known, no lefs belongs
A 2 to
, Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
to them : and that tSj an amazing fond--
nefs for poetry. It will be thought a
paradox^ that the fame people j wbofefu--
rious ravages dejlroyed the laji poor re-^
mains of expiring genius among the Ro^
mansy Jhould cherijh it with all poffible
care among their own countrymen : yet
fq it was. At leaf this was the cafe
among the ancient Danes, and from the
fmilarity of their religion j manners, and
cufiomSi is equally credible of the other
nations of T^eutoriic race.
The ancient inhabitants \of Sweden,
Denmark and Norway retained their ori-
ginal fnanners and cufloms longer than
any other of the Gothic tribes, andbrmght
them clown nearer to our own times. The
rcmotenefs of their ftuat ion rendered ac-
cefs to them flow and difficult : nor was
it till the tenth and eleventh centuries that
chrifi-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
i? R E F A C'E.
cbrtftianity bad gained an ejlablijhtnent
among them. Hence it is that we are
better acquainted with the peculiarities
of their cbaraSler^ and have more of their
original compqfitions banded down to us,
than of any other of the northern na-
tions.
Of theje compofitions a great multitude
are extant^ fome of them in print y others
preftrved in MS in the libraries of the
north. All of them demonjirate that poetry
was^once held there in the bigbeji ejlhna^
tion. The invention of it was attributed
to the gods, and ranked among the mojl
valuable gifts conferred on mortals. Thqfe
that excelled in it, were dijiinguified by
the firft honours of the-Jlate : were con*
fiant attendants on their kings, and were
often employed on the moji important com-
rnijjions. Thefe bards were called by the
A3 fgni-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
Jignijicant name g/* Scald, a word which
implies ^^ a /moot her or polijher of lan^ .
The Language in which their pro-'
duSlions are preferved^ and which once
prevailed pretty extenfively in the norths
is commonly called Islandic : Iceland
being the place -where it was fuppofed to
bejpoken in the great^ purity ^ and where
it is to this day in ufe. I'he Islandic is
the mother of the modern Swedifh and
Danifh tongues ^ in like manner as the
Jinglo-Jkxon is the parent of our Englijh^ .
Both thefe mother-tongues are dialeSls of
the ancient Gothic or Teutonic i and of .
fo near affinity ^ that^ in the opinion of
^ Skaild a depilando diAi videntUTt quod
rudem orationem tanquam evulfis pilis perpoliunt.
Torftei Pritfat, ad Ofcades.
The name of Bard alfo [Isl. BardaJ was not
unknown among the Islandic poets.
the
Digitized by VjOOQIC
I^ R E F A C E.
the learned^ what was fpoken in one of
them^ was without much difficulty under-
fiood by thofe^ who ufed the other. Hence
it is^ that fuch as Jiudy the; originals of
our own language have con/iantly found
it Tiecejfary to call in the qffijiance of this
ancient fjler dialeSl.
^he Characters, in which this
language was ori0nally written^ Wfire
called Runic; from an hlandic word
that fgnijies a furrow *. As the ma--
terials ufed for writing in the firji rude
ages were only wood or Jlone^ the conve-
nience offculpture required that theftrokes
fhould run chiefly in flrait lines ; and the
refemblance to plowing fuggefted the ap-
pellation. The word Runic was at firfl
applied to the letters, onlyi thd later
• Ryn Sulcus. Vid. Olaij Wormij Literat. Ru^
nica* 1636. 4to« p. 2, 3,
A 4 ' ipriters
Digitized by Vjt30QlC
PREFACE.
writers have extended it to the verfes
Written in them.
A few Jpecimens of thefe are now of-
fered to the public. It would he as vain
to deny 9 as it is perhaps impolitic to men-
tion, that this attempt is owing to the
fuccefs of the Erse fragments. It is b^
no means for the inter ejl of this little
work^ to have it orought into a com--
pafifon with thbfe beautiful pieces ^ after
which it muf appear to the greatejl dip-
advantage. And yet till the T'ranjlator
of thofe poems thinks proper to produce
his originals^ it is impojjible to fay whe--
ther they do not owe their fuperiority^
if not their whole exijlence entirely to
himfelf. ' The Editor of thefe pieces had
ndfuch boundlefs field for licence. Every
poem here produced has been already pub- .
lijhed accompanied with a Latin or JSwe-
difh
Digitized by VjOQQIC
PREFACE.
dtjb verfion ; by witch every deviation
would at once be deteSied. It behoved him
therefore tobeasexaSl aspojfible. Sometimes
indeedy where a fentence was obfcure, he
hath ventured to drop it, and the ajierijks
which occur will denote fuch omsffions.
Sometimes for the fake of perjpicuity it
\joas neceffary to alter the arrangement
of a period'^ and fometimes to throw in
a few explanatory words : ahd even once
or twice to fuhjlitute a more Jimple ex^
preffion injiead of the complex and enig-
matic phraje of the original.
For the reader muft be informed that
the produBions of the Islandic poetSf thd
quite original and underived, are far from
being fo eafy and Jimple as might be ex-
peSled: on the contrary, no compojitions
abound with more laboured metaphors, or
more jludied refinements. A proof that
poetry
Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
poetry bad been cultivated among them
for ffiany ages. That daring Jpirit and
vigour of imagination^ which diftinguijh;-
ed the northern warriors^ naturally in--
dined, them to bold and fwelling figures :
and as their mythology was grown very
extenfive and complicated^ the frequent
allufions to it could not but- be a great ,
Jburce ofohfcurity fo modern readers. It
was the confiant Jludy of the northern
Scalds to lift their poetic Jlyle as much
as pofjible above that of their profe. So
that they had at length formed to them^
f elves in verfe a kind of new language *,
in which every idea was exprejfed by a
peculiar tfrin, never admitted into their
ordinary converfe. Some of thefi terms
pre founded on their mythology or the far
^ ♦ Called by them, after the manner of the an-
cient Greeks, (Afim-maaly) the languagjb of
7B£ CODS^
^bulgus
• " Digitized by Google
PREFACE.
bulous hifiory of their gods : and others
on fome fancied analogy or refemhlance.
Thus if an Islandic foet bad occqfion to
mention a rainbow^ be called it. The
bridge of the gods; if gold. The tears
of YKyz^.ifpoej^, The gift of Odin.
7be earth was indifferently termed, Odin's
fpoufe ; the daughter of night, or the
veflel that floats on the ages: In like
planner a battle was to be Jiyled, The
bath of blood; The ftorm of Odin;
or the clafti of bucklers : the fea, Th?
geld of pirates, or^ the girdle of the
earth. Ice was not infignificantly named.
The greatcft of bridges : a Jhip, Thp
horfe of the waves, ^c. ^
From the fallowing JPecimens it will
be
f See there and more inftances in a very cle^
gant French book lately publifeed in Denmark^
^nd often quoted In the following pages, intitlec)
DljiiedbyCiOOgk
PREFACE.
ie found, that the poetry of the Scalds
chiefly djfplays itfelf in images of terror.
Death and war were their favourite fub-
jeSlsj and in exprejfions on this head their
language is amazingly copious and fruit-
fuL If in the following verfions there
Jbould be found too frequent a recurrence
ofjynonymous phrqfes, it is entirely owing
to the deficiency of our language y which did
not afford a greater variety : for in the ^
original the fame thought is fcarcely e^er
expreffed twice in the fame words. But
tho moft of the Islandic poetry , that has
Seen printed, is of the rougher cafl ; we
are not tofuppofe that the northern bards
never addreffed themfelves to the fofter
V introdu^lon a V hiflmre de Dunnemarc far k
Chev. MalUi^ ^to. Which contains a moft curious
and entertaining account of the alicient manners,
cuftoms, religion and mythology of thd northern
nations ; befides many ftriking fpecimens of their
compofition. A tranflacion of this work is in great
forwardnefs, and will fpeedily be publiffaed.
pajfions.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
pajfions^ or that they did not leave behind
them many pieces on the gentler JubjeSis
of lave orfriendjhip. Ttbe vnsfortune has
been, that their compqfitions have fallen
into the hands of none:but profeffed anti^
quarians : and theje have only feleSled
fuch poems for publication as confirmed
fome faSt in hiftory^ or ferved to throw
light on the antiquities of their country^
T!he Editor was in fome doubt whe*
ther he Jhould fubjoin or fupprefs the
originals. But as they lie within little
compafsj and as the books whence they
are extradied are very fcarce^ h)e was
tempted to add them as vouchers for
the authenticity of his verfion. I'hey
have alfo a further ufe. — It has been
faid by fome critics * that the prevalence
of rhyme in European poetry was de-
* Crescembeni, 6f<.
rived
Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
rhed from the Latin hymn^ invented
by the numks in the fourth and fifth cen-
turies: but from the original of EgilVs
Ode, it will be feen that the ancient
Gothic poets occajtonally tfed rhime with
all the variety and exaSinefs of our niceft
moderns^ long before their converfion td
fhriftianityi and therefore were not l^ly
to adopt it from the monks ^ a race, rf
meny whom they were either unacquainted
withf or held in deri/ion *|*-
Vpdn the whole ^ it is hoped that the
few pages /iffigned to the Islandic originals
will not be thought an ufelefs incum-^
brance by any readers ; but it is prefumed
*will be peculiarly acceptable to fuch cu^
rious perfons^ as fiudy the ancient lan^
guages of the north. To theje gentle^ '
men this fmall publication is infcribeds
t ^^' 'V^^ t^g' 32*
I One
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
PREFACE.
One of the mojl learned and moji eminent
among them has honoured it Jo far as to
compare the verfions^ every where with
the originals. But this ivas a fmall ex^
. ertion of that extenfve Jkill in languages f
which the public has feen difplayed with
Jo much advantage in the fine editions of
JuNius's Etymologicon and the Go-
thic GospfiLs — That theftudy of an^
cient northern literature hath its im^
port ant ufes has been often evinced by able
writers * .• and that it is not dry or un^
amtifive this littk work it is hoped will de^
monfirate. Its aim at lea/i is toJheWf that
ifthofe iind offiudies are not always em-*
ployed on workt of tafte or clqffic ele-*
ganccy they ferve at leaji to unlock the
treafures of native genius \ they prefent
us with frequent fatties of bold imagi^
♦ Sec Dr. Hickes's Dlffertatta Epljlolarhj l^c.
nation^
Digitized by VjOOQIC
PREFACE.
nation, and conjlantly afford matter for
pbilojbpbical refleSlion by Jhowing tbe
workings of tbe human mind in its almojl
original Jiate of nature.
ERRATA.
Page 89. col. I. line 20. lege
Fyrer Inndyris eium.
Page 94. col. I. line 32. lege
Jofur fueigde r.
THE
Digitized by VjOOQ IC ^
(I.)
THE
INCANTATION
O F
H E R V O R.
B
,y Google
vGoogk
INTRODUCTION-
•• A NDGRYM the grandfather
** -^^^ of Hervor, was prince of a
" part of Sweden, now in the province
^* of Smaland : He forcibly carried away
*• out of Ruflia Eyvor the daughter of
** Suafurkma, by whom he had twelve
^' fons, four whereof were Hervardur,
•* Hiorvardur, Hrani, and Angantyr the
*' father of Hcrvor. Thefe twelve brc-
'* thren, according to the ufual pradice
*' of thofe times, followed piracy. In
^' one of their expeditions they landed
** in the territories of Hialmar king of
" Thulemark, v^rfacre a fierce battle en-
^ fuing diey all loft their lives. An-
** gantyr fell the laft of his brethren, .
^' having firft mth his own hand killed
f^ their adverfary Hialmar. They were
P ? M buried
yGoogk
t4l
'* buried in the field of battle, togethet
'^ with their arms : and it is at thein
" tombs that Hervor, the daughter of
*^ Angantyr, who I^ad tdkcn ,a voyage
*^ thither on purpofe, q^s^es the follow-:
*^ ing invocation."
^' N. B. This Piece is publifhcd from
*f the tranfiation of Dr. Hickes, with
^f fome confiderable emendations ; See
*? his "TAeJaurw Jlntiq. Literature Sep^
*^ tentrion* 7i^. !•)>. iQiJ*
** The Hervarer Saga^ whence this
'f poem is extnwfted, is an old Islajidic
^^ hiftory *, the author and date of
'^ which are unknown : but it is ber
** lieved, in general, to be of very gf eat
* Saga in the Iflandic language figniii%5 A
HjSTO&Y, &c«
'* anti-
,y Google
** antiquity. It records the atchieVe-
^* merits of Hervor, a celebrated nor-
^ them heroine, as alfo the exploits of
** her anceftors and defcendants, in Swe-
** den and other northern countries. I^
*• was printed in a thin folio vol. at
•* Upfal in 1672, with a Swedifh ver-
** fion and Latin notes by Olaus Vere-*
^* lius : and contains many other pieces*
•' of Runic poetry/*
^ i ''ti
yGoogk
to
*' 71? prevent as nmd> as pojfihle the
•* interruption of noteSf it 'was thought
•^ proper to premife a few fmfceUaneous
« obfervations.
I.
<« rip HE northern nations ticld their
•^ X Runic verfcs in fuch reverence,
«* that they believed them fufficient (pro-
vided they were pronounced with great
emotion of mind) to raife theghofts
0^ the departed : and that without
other magical rites, elpecially if the
the party had worked himfelf up in-
c«
" to
y Google
^* to a firra pcrfi)al;on that it wbuld iia{)a
pen according to his defires.
♦* Hervor therefore in the firft ftanza
** or ftrophe calls upon her father to
** awake and deliver to her his fword*
*' — This not fuCceeding, in the next
** place (he adjures him and his brc-t
*• thren by all their arms, the sftiELD^
** &c.. — — ^ — - Being fiill unanfwered^
** (he wonders that her father and un-
** cles fhould be fo mouldered to duft^
" as that nothing of them ftiould ye*
** main, and adds, as it were by way of*
** imprecation^ so fviAy you alX*
*' BE, &c. a form of conjuring not pe*
** culiatr to this poem, Olaus Verelius
** quotes a like paflage from another
•^ ancient piece to the following efFeit^
Alia quelle eitur ver
Innan flfia^ oc vefia bolt
B 4 Kim
^Digitized by
Google
Nema fuerdtd felier mier
Samit raudajotna md.
** May the poifon of fcrpcnts and
noxious flames torment you all witliin
your ribs, unlefs you deliver me the
fword adorned with gold/'
Vid. Uerv. Saga, pag. io6, ^c.
It
" By Duergar or Dwarfs, the an*
** cient Scandinavians did not under-
** ftand human creatures defedive infizc
** or ftature, but a diftindt race of
*' beings, a kind of lefler demons,
** who inhabited the rocks and moun*
•' tains, and were remarkably expert at
" forging weapons, that were proof
** againft all force or fraud* — ^— They
«• meant
yGoogk
[9]
^' meant by dwarfs^ much the fanie ii
** wc do hy fairies'*
Olaus Ver. ad Her. Sag. f>. 44. 45.
Hickes T!hef. torn. 2. p. 31 1»
III.
** As to what is faid in the fccond ftan*
«• za, of their being buried under the
** ROOTS OF TREES. ^ It may be ob*
*' fervedy that the northern nations^ in
" the firft ages, ufually burnt their
'* dead: afterwards they buried them
'* under a barrow or hillock of earthy
*' &c. but no author mentions the roots
** of trees, as chofen particularly for the
*' place of interment. There is^ indeed,
•* one inftance of this to be found, in a
** fragment of an ancient Runic poem
•' prcfcrvcd in the hiftory of Snorro
" Sturlefon,
yGoogk
t lo]
^' Sturlefbn, but it feems to be attended
^' with circumftances too particular to,
*' prove the generality of the pradice/'
B itB ofur capp^
Auftur konga .&c-
'* ^ — ^The eaftern kings contended to^
gethpr with vehement rage, when the
ions of Yngvon hanged the generaij^
king on a tree.
^* And there on a promontory is th?t
ancient trcet on which the dead body
was fufpendcd : where the promontory
Straumyernes divides the bayj tl^ere^
I fay, expofed to the winds, ftands th^
moft ;ioted tree, remarkable for the
tomb and monument * of the king."
. SnorroBturl. Utjl. Reg. Sept.fol.p. a8.
* Or racher iarrcw^ Lat. tumdm.
yGoogk
[ '. I
IV.
" The northern nations believed that
** the tombs of theiV heroes emitted a
** kind of lambent flame, which was
*' always vifible in the night, and ferv-
*^ ed to guard the afhcs of the dead.
'* They called it Hauga Elldn or The
** SEPULCHRAL FIRE. It was fuppofed
** more particularly to furround fuch
'* tombs as contained hidden treafiires/'
Bartbol. de contempts a Dan. Mart. p. 275,
V.
«< Most of the proper names in the
*• ancient northern languages were
'* fignificant. Thus Angantyr fignifies
" One who bravely does his duty/* Her^
vardur^ " Apreferverof the zrmy" Hior-
vardur, " A keeper of the fword/' &c.
Fid. 01. VereL ad Herv. Saga, p. 49.
5
,y Google
vGoogk
THE
INCANTATION
O P
H E R V O R.
A WAKE, Angantyr; Hervor,
•s^^- the only daughter of thee and
Suafu, doth awaken thee. Give me,
out of the tomb, the hardened fword,
l^hich the dwarfs made for Suafurlama,
Hcrvardur, Hiorvardur, Hrani/ and
Angantyr; with helmet and coat of
mail, and a fharp fword; with jfhield
and ' accoutrements and bloody Ipear, I
yrake you all under the roots of trees.
Aki
Digitized by VjOOQIC
C'4]
Are the fons of Andgryro, who de-
lighted in mifchicf, now become duft
and aflies ? C^n none of Eyvor's fbns
now fpcak with me out of the habi-
nations of the dead r Hervardur, Hior-
vardur !
So may you all be, within your ribs,
as a thing that is hanged up to putrefy
among infe<fts, unlefs you deliver me the
fwordj which the dwarfs made^ ♦ * ♦
;^nd the glorious belt.
[Here the tomb opens, thcinfideof
?vhich appears all on fire, and the fol-
lowing words are fppg out of the tomb. J
Angantyr.
Daughter Hervor, full of IpeBs to
r^ife the dead^ why dpeft thou call fo ?
Wilt
vGoogk
[ >S ]
WUt thou run on to thy own mifchief ?
Thou art mad and out oF thy fenfes,
who art defperj^tely refolved to waken
jifcaci misn.
1 was not buried either by father or
other friends ; two which lived after
me got Tirfingi one of whom is novf
poffefjbr thereof *•
H E R TO R. '
Thou doft not tell the truth. So let
Odin preferre thee fafe in the tomb^ as
thou haft not Tirfing by thee. Art thou
unwilling, Angantyr, to giv$ an inheri*
tanqc tp thy only child ?
' An-
^ This is fatdmerdy to .make her deflft from
her purpofe ; as forcfeeing it will prov^ fatal to hev
pofterity.
^rptg is the name of the fword. The etjrmor
lo|g^ of this word is not known.
vGoogk
[i6]
Angantyr.
I will tell thee, Hcrvor, what wiH
come to pafs : this Tiffing will, if thou
doft believe me, deftroy almoft all thy
offspring. Thou fhalt have a fon, who
afterwards muft poffefs Tirfijig, and
many think he will be called Heidrei;
by the people.
H E R V R.
I do by inchantments make that the
dead fhall never enjoy reft, unlefs An-
gantyr deliver me Tirfing; that cleavetb
Oiields, and killed Hialmar.
Angantyr*
Young maid, I fay, thou art of
manlike courage, who doft rove about
b^ night to tombs, with ipear engraven
w|th
,y Google
h7l
t^th magic ipells ^, with helmet and
coat of mail, before the door of our
halL
Hb R VCR.
t took thee for a brave man^ bcfoie I
found out your hall. Give me» out of the
tombj the workmanfhip of the dwaVfs,
which hateth all coats of mail. It is
not good for thee to hide it.
An GA N T YR*
The death of Hialmar lies under my
ihoulders : it is all wrapt up in fire : I
know no maid^ in any country^ that
dares take thisfword in hand*
• It was ufual with the northern uarriors to in»
fcribe Runic charaAers on therr weapons^ to pre-
vent their being dulled or blunted by inchantm^nt^
If alfo to give thc;m a keennefs and ftrengih which'
OOCbifig could refift. OL VereU pa^. loi.
C Hervor*
vGoogk
H E R V O R,
I ihall keep and take in my hand (9ie
fharp fword^ if I may obtain it. I do
not think that lire will burn, which
plays about the fight of deceafed men.
A N G A w T V R.
O conceited Hervor, thou art mad 5
rather than thou, in a moment, (houldeft
fall into the fire, I will give thee the
fword out of the tomb, young maid >
and not hide it from thee.
[Here the fword was delivefed to
Hervor out of the tomb, who proceeds
thus.]
Hervor.
Thou didft well, thou offspring of he-
roes, that thou didft fend me the fword
/ out
,y Google
r '9 3
out ofthetomb; I amnow better pleafed,
O prince^ to hove it, thaa if I had
gotten all Norway.
Angantyr.
Falfe woman, thou doft not un«
derfland thst thou ipeakeft foolifhly of
that in which thou doeit rejoice: for
Tiffing (hall, if thou doeft belie?c me,
maid, deflroy all thy offspring.
He R V o R.
I muft go to my feamen. Here I
have no mind to ftay longer. Little do
I care, O royal anceiter, about what
my fons may hereafter quarrel.
Angantyr.
Take and keep Hialmar's bane,
which thou ihalt long have and enjoy :
C z touch
,y Google
[20]
touch but the edges of it, there is
poiibn in them both : it is a m^ft cruel
devourerofmen.
He r V o r-
I fhall keep, and take in hand, the
(harp fword, which thou haft let me
have: I do not fear, O flain father,
about what my fons may hereafter
quarrel.
Angantyr.
Farewel, daughter: I do quickly
give thee twelve men's death : if thou
canft believe with aiight and courage :
even all the goods, which Andgiym's
fons left behind them.
He r vo »•
Dwell all of you fafe in the tomb.
I muft be gone, and haften hence ; for
I fcem to be in the midft of a place
where fire burneth round about me.
THE
vGoogk
(It)
THE
DYING ODE
O F
REGNER LODBROG.
C3
vGoogk
dtiy Google
t S13 ]
INTRODUCTION.
^^ T>^ ING Regaer Lodbt^og was a
^' JL^ celebrated Poet, Warrior, and
'** (what was the fame diing in thofe
ages) Pirate; who reigned in Denmark,
about the beginning of the ninth cen-
tury. After many warlifee expeditions
by ifea and land, he at length met with
bad fortune. He was taken in battk by
his adverfary Ella king of Northum-
♦* beriand. War in thofe rude ages was
" carried on with Ac fame inhuman!-
•** ty, as it is now among the favages of
" North- America ; their prifoners were
** only referved to be put to death with
" torture. Regner was accordingly
f thrown into a dungeon to be ftung
C 4 « to
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<€
*' to death by fcrpcnts. While he wa»
-" dying he compofed this fong, where-
'' in he records all the valiant atchieve^
'' ments of his life, and threatens Ella
" with vengeance ; vtrhich hiftory in-
" forms us was afterwards executed bj
♦' the fons of Regncr.
•* It is, after all, conje<Jhired that Reg*
^* ncr himfclf only compofed a few ftan-
*' zas of this poem, and that the reft.
^^ were added by his Scald or poet<-
^^ laurpat, whofe bufinefs it was to add
«' to the folenmities of his funeral by
** finging foflie poem in his praifc.
L'Edda pqr Qhev. Mallet, p. 1 50*
f* This piece is tr»nflated from the
** Wandic original publifhed by Olaus
^« Wormius in hjis Ifiter^tur/i Runica^
,y Google
4€
Fol. 1651.
«
4€
4€
'^ N. B. Thora, mentioned in the
firft ftanza^ was daughter of fome
little Gothic prince, whofe palace
was infefted by a large ferpcnt ; he
offered his daughter in marriage to
any one that would kill the monfter
and fet her free. Regner accom*
pliihed the atchievement and acquir*
ed the name of Lod-brog^ which lijg-
nifies ROUGH or hairy-breeches,
becaufe he cloathed hixnfelf all over
in rough or hairy fkins before he
made the attack, \yide Saxon Gram,
fag. ijz, 153. ] > This is tlie poe-
^* tical
yGoogk
[ 26 ]
** tical account of this adventure : but
** hiftory informs us that Thora was
** kept prifoncr by one of her fathers
^^ vailals, whoTe name was Orme or
** Serpent, and that it was from this
** man that Regner delivered her, clad
** in the aforefaid (haggy armour. But
he himfelf chufcs to commemorate it
*' in the moft poetical manner." •
Vide C/jev. Mallet Introd. a r Hijl.
de Dannemarc. pag. 10 1 .
«c
THE
yGoogk
[^3
THE
DYING ODE
O F
REGNER LODBROa
WE fought wkh (words : ♦ * ♦
wh^i in Oothland I (lew an
enoFfnous ierpent : my reward was the
beauteous Thora. licence I was deem*
ed a man : they called me Lodbrog from
that flaughter. * ♦ ♦ I thruft the monfter
through with my fpear, with the ftcel
produdive qf Iplendid rewards.
We fought with fwords : I was very
young, when towards the Eaft, in the
jftraights of Eirar, we gained rivers of
blood
V Digitized by Google
(28 J
hhod * for the ravenous wolf: ample
food for the ydlow-footed fowl. There
the hard iron fung upon the lofty
helmets. The whole ocean was one
wound. The raven waded in the blood
of the (lain.
We fought with fwords : we lifted
high our lances; when I had numbep-
cd twenty years, and every where ac-
€|iuired great renown. We conquered
eight barons at the mouth of the Da*
Attbe. We procured ample entertain^
.niicnt for the e^le in that flaughter.
Bloody fweat fell in the ocean of wounds.
A hoft of men there loft their lives^
♦ LitcraJly ** Rivers of wounds.**
By the yellow-footed fowl is meant the eagle.
We
vGoogk
[ 29 ]
Wc fought with fwords.: wc enjoyed
tke 6^t, when we fent the inhabitants
of Helling to the habitation of the
gods -f-. We fiukd up the Viftula,
Then the fword acquired ipoils : the
whole ocean was one wound : the earth
grew red with reeking gore : the iword
grinned at the coats of mail : the fword
cleft the ihields afunder.
We fought with Rvords : I well tc-
member that no one fled that day in die
battle before in the ihips Herauder feli.
There does not a fairer warrior divide
the ocean with his.veffels. * * * Thi«
prince ever brought to the battle a gal*-
iant heart.
t Literally, « to the hall of Odin."
Wc
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We fought with fwordfi : the army
cad: away their fhidids. Then flew the
ipear to the bpcaftsr of '^o warriors^
The fword in the flg^t cut i^ vcpy
rocks : the fliidki was. all befineared
with Uood> before kkg^Ra&o fell^ our
fee. The waim fweat run dowa from
the heads on the coats of maiL
We fought with fwords, before the
ifles of Indir. We gave ample prey
for the ravens to rend in pieces y a ban-
quet for the wild beafts that feed on
ilefh. At that tinse all were valiant :
it were diifficult to fingle out any one.
At the rifing of the fun, I faw the lances
pierce : the bows darted the arrows from
them.
We fought with fwords : loud was
the
Digitized by
Googk
the dm ^ of arms ; befoce king Eiflin
fell in the field. Tbenoe^ enriched with
golden /poils, wc marched to fight in
the landi of Vals. There the fword cut
the painted fhields -f*. In the meeting
of helmets> the blood ran from the
wounds : it ran down from the cloven
i^ulk of men.
We fought with fwords, before Bo-
ring-holmi. We held bloody fhields :
we ftained our fpears. Showers of ar-
rows brake the Ihield in pieces. The
bowfent forth the glittering fteel. Vol-
iiir fell in the conflid, than whom there
was not a greater king. Wide on the
* Din is the word in the Islandic original.
Dinn greniudfi brottam*
t Literally, « the paintings of the fhields."
fhores
yGoogk
I 3^1
(bores lay the icattered dead : the wolvef
rejoiced over their prey*
We fought with fwords, in the Flc-*
mings land: the battle widely raged
before king Freyr fell therein* The blue
fteel all reeking with blood fell at length
upon the golden mail. Many a virgin
bewailed the ilaughter of that morning*
The beafts of prey had ample fpoil»
We fought with fwords, before Ain-
planes. There faw I thoufands lie dead
in the fhips : we ^ed to the battle for
fix days before the army fell. There
we celebrated a ma/s of weapons ** At
the
♦ This is Intended for a fnecr on the Qhriftiait
religion, which tho' it had not gained any footing
in the norttern nations, when this Ode was writ*
Uo^ was aot wholly unknown jto them. Their
piratical
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t33] •
ti^g of the fun Valdiofur fell before
our fwordst
We fought with fwords^ at Barda*
fyrda* A fhower of blood rained from
our weapons. Headlong fell the palid
corpie a prey for the hawks. The
bow gave a twanging found. The blade
fharply bit the coats of mail : it bit the
helmet in the fight. The arrow fharp
with poiibn and all beiprinkled with
bloody fweat ran to the wound.
We jR)ught with fwords, before the .
bay of Hiadning. We held aloft magic
fhidds in the play of battle. Then
piratical expeditions into the Touthern countries
had given them fome notion of it, but by no means ^
a favoiuahle one : they confidered it as the reli-
gion of cowards, becaufe it would have corrected
teir fiivage manners.
D might
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[34]
might you fee men, who retit fhiddsi
with their fwords. The helmets were
fhattered in the murmur of the war-
riors. The pieafure of that day was
like having a fair virgin placed beiide
one in the bed.
We fought with fwords, in the Nor-
thumbrian land» A furious ftorm de-*
fcended on the (hields : many a lifelefs
body fell to the earth. It was about
the time of the morning, when the
foe was compelled to fly in the battle.
Ther^ the fword (harply bit the polifh*
ed helmet. The pieafure of that day
was like kifling a yotmg widow at the
higheft feat of the table.
We fought with fwords, in the iilcs
of the fouth. There Herthiofe proved
3 vi6lo-
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vidorious: there died many of our va«
liant warriors. In the (hower of arms
Rogvaldur fell : I loft my ion. In the
play of arms came the deadly fpear:
his lofty crcft was dyed with gore:
The birds of prey bewailed his fall :
they loft him that prepared them ban-
quetsv
We fought with fwords, in the Irifti
plains. The bodies of the warriors lay
intermingled. The hawk rejoiced at
the play of fwords. The Irifli king did
not Z&, the part of the eagle***.
Great was the conflidl of fword and
fhield. King Marftan was killed in
the bay: he was given a prey to the
hungry ravens.
We fought with fwords: the fpear
D 2 re-
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i^6]
refounded: the banners ikont * \lpon
the coats of mail. I faw many a war-
rior fall in the morning: many a hero
io the contention of arms. Here the
fword reached betimes the heart of my
(on: it was Egill deprived Agnar of
life. He was a youths who never knew
what it was to fear.
We fought with fwords, at Skioldun-
ga. We kept our words: we carved
out with our weapons a plenteous ban-
quet for the wolves of the feaf. The
ihips were all b^meared with crimfon,
as if for many days the maidens had
brought and poured fortli wine. All
rent was the mail in the claih of arms.
* Or more properly ** rcfieded the funihine up-
<< on the coat of mail.**
t A poetical name for the fiihes of prejr.
Wc
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[37 3
Wc fought with fwofds; when Ha-
rold feU. I faw him ftrugling in the
twilight of death; that young chief fo
proud of his flowing locks * :. he who
{pent his mornings among the young
maidens: he who loved to converie
with the handfome widows. * * * *
We fought with fwords : we fought
three kings in the iile of Lindis. Few
had reafon to rejoice that day« Many
fell into the jaws of the wild-beafts>
The hawk and the wolf tore the> flefh
of the deadc they departed glutted with
their prey. The blood of the Irilh fell
plentifully into the ocean, during the
time of that flaughter.
• He means Harold Harfax king of Norway. —
tiarfi^ (fynonymous to our Engliih Fairfax) fig-
nifics Fatr-hch.
D X We
yGoogk
[38]
Wc fought with fwords, at the iflc
of Onlug. The uplifted weapon bit the
(hields. The gilded lance grated on the
mail. The traces of that fight will be
feen for ages. There kings marched
up to the play of arms. The Chores of
the fea were ftained with blood. The
lances appeared like flying dragons.
We fought with fwords. Death is
the happy portion of the brave*; for
he (lands the fbremofl: againft the ftorm
of weapons. He, who flies from danger^
often bewail; bis miferable life. Yet
how diflicult is it to rouze up a coward
to the play of arms ? The daftard fecfs
no heart in his bofom.
* The northern warriors thought none were
intitled to Ehzium, but fuch as died in battle, or
underwent a violent death.
Wc '
vGoogk
[ 39 ]
We fought with fwords. Young men
Hiould march up to the conflidt of
arms: man fhould meet man and never
give way. In this hath always con-
fifted the nobility of the warrior. He,
who afpires to the love of his miftrefs,
ought to be dauntlefs in the clafh of
arms.
We fought with fwords. Now I
iind for certain that we are drawn
along by fate. Who can evade the de-
crees of deftiny ? Could I have thought
the conclufion of my life referved for
Ella; when almoft expiring I jfhed tor-
rents of blood ? When I launched forth
my fliips into the deep ? When in th^
Scotiih gulphs I gained large (poils for
the wolves ?
D 4 We
vGoogk
C 40 ]
We fought with fwords: ^ fills,
me ftfll with joy^ becaufe I know a
banquet is preparing by the father of
jdie gods. Soon, in the (plendid hall
of Odin, we fhall drink Beer * out of
the fculls of our enemies. A brave
man (brinks not at death. I (hall utter
no repining words as I approach ^e
palace of the gods.
We fought with fwords. O that the
fons of Aflauga*!* knew; O that my
children knew the fufferings of their fa-
ther! that numerous ferpents filled with
poifon tear me to pieces ! Soon woiild
♦ Beer and Mead were the only ne£lar of the
northern nations. Odin alone of all the gods was
fuppofed to drink Wine. Vid. BarthtSn.
t Aflauga was his fecond wife, whom he mar*
ried after the death of Tbora.
they
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[ 41 ]
they be here : toon would ch^ wage
bitter war with their fwords. I gare
a mother to my children from whom
they inherit a valiant heart*
We fought with fword$. Now I toudi
<m my laft nooments. I receive a dead«^
ly hurt from the vipen A ierpent in-
habits die hall of my heart. Soon fhall
my Ions black their iw(»xls in die blood
of Ella. They wax red with fuxy:
they bum with rage* Thofe gallant
youths will not reft till they have a-
vengcd their father.
We fought with fwords. Batdes fifty
and one have been fought under my
banners. From my early youth I learnt
to dye my (word in orimfon : I never
yet could find' a king more valiant than
myfelf.
vGoogk
[42]
myfelf. The gods now invite me to
them. Death is not to be lamented.
'Tis with joy I ceafe. The god-
deiTes of deftiny are come to fetch me.
Odin hath fent them from the habita-
tion of the gods. I fhall be joyfully
received into the higheft feat; I Ihall
quaff full goblets among the gods. The
hours of my life are paft away. I die
laughing.
THE
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( in. )
THE
R A N S O M E
O F
EG ILL the SCALD.
,y Google
Digitized by VjOOQIC
I
[45]
INTRODUCTION.
€i / I ^ HE following piece is an il-
<« X luftrious proof of the high re-
** vcrence in which poets and their art
** were held among the northern na-
** tions. It was compofed by Egill a
•* celebrated Sca/J or poet, who having
** received fbme injury from Eric Bio-
'* dox king of Norway, had in revenge
** killed his fon and feveral of hisfriends^
♦* Being afterwards feized in Iceland by
" Eric's queen, (he fent him after her
'* hufband into England; which he
" had juft before invaded, and where
•* he then had gained fomc footing.
** Though EgiU had fo highly exaf-
" perated the king, he purdhafed his
^* pardon by the poem, here tranflated;
2 " which.
vGoogk
€t
€€
[46]
^« whlchj notwithfbnding it is all in
*' rhyme^ and coniifts of a great va-
riety of meafures ; and tho' the ftyle
is uncommonly figurativej is faid to
have been pronounced extempore in
*^ a full aflembly of Eric and his
•* chiefs/
Mal/et Introd. a rUiJl. de Dannem^ p.
247. OlaijJVonn. Lit. Run. p. 195.
^' The tranflation is made from the
'^ Iflandic original, publifhed by Olaus
•* Wormius in his Literatura Runica^
•• ^to.pag. 227.
•• N. B, In the following poem Eric
^' is called the English Chief^ in
<* compliment to his havinggained fomc
^* footing in the kingdom of Northum-
•* berland*
,y Google
(47]
♦* berland.— He is alfo intitled the
** Commander op the Fleet of
^ Scots; from his having auxiliaries
^* of that nation : it was ufual £m the
^* Scots to join the Danes &ۥ in their
'* irruptions into the fouthern parts of
^' the ifland/'
THE
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'X'
■,:-'^^i'j.
r
vGoogk
t49 3
THE
R A N S O M E
O F
E G I L L the SCALD.
I Came by fca from the weft, I lying
in my bofom the gift of Odin.
Thus wis my paffage,: I launched into
the ocean in fhips of Iceland: my mind
is deep laden with the fongs of the
gods*
I offer my freight unto the king : I
owe a poem for my ranfome. I pre-
fent to the EngUfh chief the fongs of
Odin. >^ Renown is imperfeft without,
fongs. My lays refound his praife; X
E intreat
Digitized by VjOOQ IC '
C5o3
intreat his filent attention ; while he is
the fubjca of my fbng.
Liftcn, O prince, that I may fwell
the ftrain. If I can obtain but filence,
many men {hall know the atchieve-?
ments of the king. Odin hath feen
where the dead bodies lie.
The clafh of arms increafed about
the edges of the fhield. The god-
deffes of war had required this of him.
The king was impetuous : he was dif-
tinguiflied in the tumult : a torrent
flowed from his fword : the florm of
weapons furioufly raged.
The web of fpcars went furioufly
forward; thro* the refounding ranks of
fhieldsi among the carcafles deftined to
glad
vGoogk
giad the eagles. The ihip failed in a Tea
bf blood. Wounds r<f(bunded on all fides*
the feet of the warriors failed at the
aUchargc of arrows. There Eric ac*
quired deathlefs renown*
I ihall proceed if the warriors will
liften: I have heard of all their gloriouti
renown. The wounds boiled at the
king's attack. The fwords were broken
iagainfl the azure fhields*
The broken harnefs gave a crafh:
<he helmets flaihed out fire. Sharp
^as the fwbird : it was a bloody de-
ftroyer. I know that many warriors
£ 2 feU
vGoogk
[52]
fell before the Springing bow, in the
play of weapons.
Then was there a devouring of fpears,
in the clafli of arms* There Eric ac-
quired deathlefs renown.
The king dyed his fword in crimlbn;
his fword that glutted the hungry ra-
vens. The weapon aimed at human life.
The bloody lances flew. The com-
mander of the Scotifh fleet fed fat the
birds of prey* The fifl:er of Nara*
trampled on the foe : (he trampled on
the evening food of the eagle.
* An Islandic phrafe for death, it afludes to the
ancient northern mythology. See the Edda, &c.
The
,y Google
[53]
The beaked lances flew amidft the
edges of the fword. The weapoos ac-
cuftomed to meafure wounds were im-
brued in blood. The wolf mangled
the feflering wounds. Over their prey
the ravens tumultuoufly aflembled.
The dreadful inundation overwhelm-
ed the fecure. Eric gave the dead bo-
dies to the wolves in the fea *.
Sharp was the flying dart : then peace
was lofl:. ^Bent was the bow; at which
the wolf rejoiced. Broken were the
lances. Sharp were the fwords. The
bow-ftrings bare away the arrows.
* An Islandic phrafe for fifhcs of prey.
E 3 Thd
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[ 54 ]
The valiant provoker of warlike play
{ends the lances iropi his hand : he is
prodigal, of blood. It is poured fprth
pn^dl fides. The fbiig flows from my
heart. The expedition of Eric is cele-
brated thro' the eaftern ocean.
The king bent his bow : the ftinging
ftrrows fly. Eric gave the dead bodies
to the wolves in the fea.
It remains that I diftinguiih among
the warriors the fuperipr excellence of
the king. My fong will flow more ra-,
pid. He cabies the goddcfs of war to
watch upon his prow. He makes hi§
i[hip to fcate along the rough billows.
' ' The
vGoogk
issJ
The king, who breaks the fliower
of arrows, abounds in wealth. The
fhield-rending warriors rcfound his
praife: the jocund mariners are glad-
dened with his gold: precious ftones
court the hand of the king.
There was no ftanding for the de-
luge of blood. The drawn bow twangs:
it fends forth the arrow to meet the
fword. The king hath gained a firm
polTeifion in his enemies land. PraUe
dwells beiide him.
The king hath been attentive to my
lays fuch as I could produce. I am
happy that I could obtain a filent hear-^
ing. I have employed my tongue. I
E 4 have
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Ls6]
have poured forth from my ^ul the
ibngs of Odin in this fplendid city.
I have publifhed the praifcs of the
king: I have broke through thf fetters
of iilence : I have not feared to fpeak
in the affembly of warriors. I have
poured forth from my bread the praifes
of Eric They flowed forth that many
might hear then^.
May he abound in gold* May Kq
enrich his fubjeAs. May his fantie be
ipread abroad. May all things fucceed
to the king's defires *.
* The laft ftanza is in the orginsd (o highly
figurative, and contains fuch pbicure allufions to
the northern mythology, that it would only admit
of a very loofe paraphrafe. That here given, i^
founded on the notes of Olaus Wormius« pag.
140*
THE
vGoogk
{IV.)
THE
FUNERAL SONG
O F
H A C O N.
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,y Google
( 59 1
INTRODUCTION,
5^ T TACON, the fubjed of the fol-
?* JL A lowing piecci was fon of the ce-
f* lebratcd Harold Harfax, whofc death
ff is recorded in Regner's ode. He was
^* the great hero of the Norwegians,
f* and the |afl: of their Pagan kings.
^' Hacon was flaiii about the year 960
f* in a battle with the Danes, in which
^' eight of his brethren fell before
f * hini* Eyvindur his coufiq, a famous
f* fcald, or poet, who was prefenf
" at the battle, compofed this poeni
** to be fung at his funeral, What
^* feems to have fuggefted the plan of
" the ode, was Hacon's furviving the
** battle, and afterwards dying of his
f * wounds, which were not at firft ap-
t' prehended to be mortal. Althougl^
'* this
■V
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[6o]
•' this is not very dear from the hif-
" tory, fomething of this kind muft be
"' underftood, to render the poem in-
" tcUigible,
" To fave the neceffity of many
" notes, we muft remind the Reader,
** that Odin or Woden was worfhip-
" ped in the northern nations, as the
^ god pf war, and as fattier of the
" other gods. Such as died in battle
** were believed to hp received into the
•* habitation of the gods, and there to
*' fe^ft and carroufe fulj goblets of die
** northern nedtar Ale and Beer; this
** place or Elizium was called Falball
" or the hall of flaughter. Tp receive
" an invitation to Vdhall or the palace
" of the gods meant the fame as to rer
" ceive a death-fummons,
V The
2
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[ 6i ]
** The Islandic original o£ this poem
is preferved in Snorro Sturlefon's Ht/i. '
Regum Septentrionalium, folio, vol. i.
pag, 163. The Latin verfion of Pe-
•* ringfkiold has been chiefly followed,
** except in fome few places in which
^*' the preference was given to that of
** Bartholin in his Caufa de contempt^
*^ a Danis mortis, and to the French
** tranflation of the Chev. Mallet in hi|
•* L'Edda,f>ag,is9r.
4t
€i
4€
THE
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by Google
f 6j ]
THE
FUNERAL SONG
O F
H A C O N.
GONDUL and Scogul, the god-
defies of deftiny, were fent by
Odin to cbufe^ among the kings^ one
of the race of Yngvon, who fhould go
dwell with him in the palace of the
gods.
They found the brother of Biomo
putting on his coat of mail : that ex-
cellent king flood ready under the ban*-
ner : the enemies fell ; the fword w§ir
brandiAied j the conflict was begun.
^ The
Digitized by VjOOQIC
t64]
The flayer of princes had conjured
the inhabitants of Haleyg: he had con-
jufed the bhabitants of the ifl^^: he
went to the battle. The renowned
chief had a gallant retinue of northern
men. The depopulator of the Daniih
iflands flood under his helmet.
The leader of the people had juft
before cafl: aiide his armour; he hiid
put off his coat of mail : he had thrown
them down in the field a little befo^
the beginning of the battle, tie l^ras'
playing with the fons of renowned men,
when lie was called forth to defend his
kingdom. The gallant king now flood
under his golden helmet,
Then the fword in the king's h^cj
cut the coverings of brafs, as eafily as
if
vGoogk
r-65]
if it had been brandiflied in water*
The javelins clafhed together: the
ihieldis were broken : tfte arms refbu|id«
cd on the fculls of men,
The arms of Tyr, the arms of Bau-
-ga* were broke to pieces; fo hard
were the helmets of the northern war-
riors. They joined battle in the iflahd
Storda, The kings broke through the
ihinlng fences of fhields : they ftained
them with human blood.
The fwords waxed hot ^t* ^ tht
wounds diftilling blood. The long
* Tyr and Baiiga wer^ two.fubordlnate god$
of war : the expreffion means no more than the
.Martia Ula of Vii^il. ,
f Or perhaps more literally, " burnt in the
«* wounds." One name for fwords among the
Runic poets is, ** The fires of wounds/' Latin
Vuherum igms*
F flueWs
yGoogk
[66 J
fhiefds inclined themfelves over, the
lives of* men. The deluge from the Ipears
ran down the (hore of Storda : there on
that promontory fell the wounded bodies.
Wounds fufFufed with gore were re*
ceived anaong the fhields ; while they
played in the battle contending for fpoil.
The blood rapidly flpwed in the ftorm
of Odin. Many men periihed thro*
the jffowings from the fword.
Thtn fate the chiefs with their
blunted fwords; with broken and Shat-
tered fhields ; with their coats of mail
pierced thro* with arrows. The hoft
no longer thought of vifiting the habi-
tation of the gods.
When lo! Gondul leaned on her
3 lance
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{ 67 ]
lance and thus beipake them> The
eShmhly of the gods is going to be
increafed, for they invite Hacon with a
mighty hoft to their banquet.
The king heard what the beautiful
nymphs of war, fitting on their horfcs^
(pake. The nymphs feenied full of
thought: they were covered with their
helmets : they had their fheilds before *
them.
Hacon faid. Why haft thou, O god-
dcis, thus difpofed of the battle? Were
we not worthy to have obtained^a more
perfedl victory ? ^Thou owcft to us,
retorted Scogul, that thou haft carried
die field: that thy enemies have be-
taken themfelves to flight.
F 2 Scogul
d by Google
[65]
Scogul the wealthy * fpake thtf r;
Now we muft ride through the green
worlds of the gods, to tell Odin that
the all-powerful king is coming to his
hall; that he is coming to vifit him.
The father of the gods faid, Her-
rtiode and Brago, my fons, go to meet
the king: for now Hacon, the admired
warrior, approachcth to our hall.
The king was now arrived from the
battle, he ftood all befprinkled with
blood and faid ; Odin appeareth very
fevere and terrible : he fmileth not upon
my foul.
• The Destinies are called rich orwealthjr,
becaufe thejrfiiudly inherit and poflefi all things.
Br ago , ^
yGoogk
(69 J
Brago faid. Thou fliall have peace
here with all the heroes : drink Ate
therefore with the gods. Thou dcr
ftroyer of princes haft h^re withia
eight b^rethren*
The good king anfwered; We will
retain our arms * : the mail and hel-
met are carefully to be retained : it is
good to have the fword in rcadinefs.
Then was feen how religioufly the
king had performed all facred duties;
.fince the great council of the gods, and
all the lefler divinities received HacQA
among them with acclamations of wel-*
come«
* Meaning that he would only enjoy warlike
amufements, for fo they believed their heroes were
employed in Elyfium.— It is probably a poetical
infinuation that he would have his arms buried
with him»
F 3 . That
vGoogk
[70]
That king is bom on a fortunate
-day, who gains to himfelf ftich favour
fix)m the gods. The age in which he
hath lived fhall ever be held in higii
remembrance.
'^^he wolf Fenris*, freed from his
chains, Ihall range through the wodid
among the ions of men, before fo re-*
nowned and fb good a king fhall again
tread the defolate path of his kingdom.
Riches perifh : relations die : king-
doms are laid wafle. Let Hacon dwell
with the magnificent gods : While many
nations are plunged in grief.
* By the wolf Fenris, the northern nations un-
dcrftood a kind of demon or evil principle at en-
mity with the gods, who, tho' at prcfent chained
up from doing mifchief, was hereafter to break
loofe and deftroy the world. Sec the Edda.
THE
ized by Google
(V. )
THE
COMPLAINT
OF
HAROLD.
F4
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\ ^
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[73]
INTRODUCTION.
*' TTAROLD, furnamcd The Va-
•* A X liant, lived about the mid-
** die of the eleventh century, and was
^' one of the moft illuftrious adventu-
** rers of his time. Piracy was con-
'^ fidered among the northern nations,
^^ as the only road to riches and glory :
** in purfuit of thefe Harold had not
*' only run thro* all the northern fqas,
^* but had even penetrated into the Me-
^* diterranean, and made many fu^cefs-
" ful attempts on the coafts of Africa
*' and Sicily. He was at length taken
*' prifoner and detained for fome time
^* at Conftantinople. In this ode he
** complains that all the glory he had
** ac-
vGoogk
174-]
'*' acquired by fo many exploits had not
" been able to move the heart of Eli-
" zabeth daughter of Jariflaus king of
^' Ruffia.
** The following piece is only a frag-
** ment ; for the ode originally confift-
'^ ed of fixteen ftanzas: it is alio much
** more modern than any of the former.
'* It was notwithftanding acceptable,
** as the fubjed of it turns upon the
*' fofter paflion?, and is not altogether
•* taken up with blood and death and
other images of horrpr, like the reft.
4i
f ** The original of this fragment is
** printed in Bartholin's excellent trea-
" tife intitled, Caufa contempts a Da--
** nis mortis, 4,(0 1689./., 54: where it
** is accompanied with a Hteral Latin
'' vcr-
,y Google
[7S] ~
^* verfion, which we have chiefly fol-
" lowed, except in one or two pafla-
** ges, where the preference feemed
** due to the French tranflation of the
^* Chevalier Mallet, publifhed in his
'* L' Edda^ /^to 1755. Bartholin tells
** us he had the original out of an old
** Islandic hiftory, intitlcd Knitlinga
Saga:'
u
THE
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,y Google
[77]
THE
COMPLAINT
o p
H A R O L D.
MY fhip hath failed round the iflc
of Sicily. Then were we all
magnificent and fplendid. My browa
veffel, foil of warriors, rapidly ikimmed
aloqg the waves. Eager for the fight,
I thought my fails would never flacken:
And yet a Ruffian maid difdains me.
I fought in my youth with the inha-
bitants of Drontheim. They had troops
fupcrior in number. Dreadfol was the
conflid. Young, as I was, 1 left their
young
' ;'
Digitized by VjOOQIC
C 78 ]
young king dead in the fight. And yet
a Ruffian maid difdains me.
One day we were but fixteen on
fliip-board : a tempeft rofe and fwelled
the ocean. The waves filled the load-
ed veflcl: but we diligently cleared it.
Thence I formed the brighteft hopes.
And yet a Ruffian maid difdains me.
I know how to perform eight exer-
cifcs. 1 fight with courage. I keep a.
firm feat on horfeback. I am ikilled
in fwimming. I glide along the ice
ion Ic^tes. I excell in darting the lance.
I am dextrous at the oar. And yet
ft Ruffian maid. difdains me.^
What tender maid or widow mn de-
ny, that in the morning, when, pofted
near
vGoogk
f 79 J
near the city in the fouth, we joined
battle ; can deny that I bravely wielded
my arms; or that I left behind me laft-9
ing monuments of my valour. And
yet a Rufiian maid difdains me.
I was bom. in the uplands of Nor-
way, where the inhabitants handle {o
well the bow. Now I make my fliips,
the dread of peafants, rufti among the
rocks of the fca. Far from the abode
of men> I have plowed the wide ocean
with my vclTels. And yet a Ruffian
maid difdains me.
POSTSCRIPT.
vGoogk
£8.0]
POST-SCRIPT.
** In the preceding poem Harold
" mentions eight excrcifcs, but enu-
** meratcs only five* If the Reader
^* is inquifitive to know what thofe are,
" which he has omitted, he may col-
" led them from the foUowbg ancient
** Runic verfcs* Wherein a northera
•^ hero is introduced boafting of him-
'' fclf,
^qfi em ek aurr at &c.
^' I am mafter of nine accomplifh-
ments. 1 play well at chefs. I know-
how to engrave Runic letters* I am
apt at my book^ and know how to
handle the tools of the finith. I tra-
verlc
yGoogk
'[ Si r
Verfe the fnow on fcatcs of wood, t
excell in ihooting with the bow; and
in managing the oar. I iing to the
harp ; and compofe vcrfes/'
O//. Wormij. Lit. Run. pag* I29,-a-
BarthoL Caufa &c. pag. 420.
" Wc fhall conclude this fubjed,
" with a celebrated charaftcr from
** the ancient chronicles of Norway*
*^ viz."
**King Olaf Tryggefon was ftronger^
mcTre alert and nimble than any man of"
his time. He, would climb the rock
Smalferhorn^ and fix his fhield on the
top of it. He would walk without
the boat oh the oars while the men
Were rowing* He woyld play with
G three
,y Google
three darts at once ; toffing them up iii
ihe air^ and always keeping two up,
while one was down in his hand^ He
was ambi-dexter, and could ufe hk
weapon with both hands^ and throw
two javelins at once. He excelled all
his men in (hooting widi the bow :
And in fwimming.he had no equal."
S^e Pont0pjl»dan4 Hift. ^ Norway f
pag. 248
THE END.
d by Google
Tiit
isLandic originals
Of the preceding ,
P O E M S.
G ,
,y Google
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
[85 3.
I.
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
OF THE
Incantation of Hervor.
V. Hcrvarcr Saga, Olaj Vcrclj. Upfal. 1 67 2. fol. p. 9 1 •
H £ R FO R.
T^Akaduu Angantyr^
Vekur thig Hervor
Einka Jotter
Tckar Suafu :
Sel tbu mer ur baugg
Hardau makir^
Than er Suafurlama
Slogu duergar.
Her^uarduryHior-vardur^
Hrani ec Angantyr,
Vek ig ijdr alia
Vidar under rotum^
Med bialmv oc briniuf
Oc buojfufuerdii
Raund oc reida^
Oc rodnum geiri,
Ero mhg vordner
AndgrymsJlyner
Mein-giamer ad
Molldar auka !
Ad iingi gior/ona
Eyubr mid mig m<ela
Ur munar bet mi !
Hervardur^ Hiorvardur.
o 3
Smfo ijdur aullttm
Ifman rifia
Sim er i mater a
Montid bangif
Nemajiurdfelierf
Tbad erjlogu dteergar
Satttj^a draugnm ;
Dyrt umfetla.
[Itbui biU opnuduft baw
gar 9 oc *var edt adfia fern
logi eintf oc tba tmr tbitta
quedid i bauge Angantyrs ;]
ANGANTTR.
Hervor dotter
Huij katlarfiMi
Fullfeikiuftafa^ .
tertbuadiUu?
Odertuordite
Oc or*uita
Vill-biggiandl
Vekia dauda menn,
Grofu mig ey fader
Niefrattdur adrer.
Tbeir baufdu Tirfing
Ttieir
yGopgk
i%]
Tuiir er Is/du,
Vard the iigandi
piun affijdoH.
HERrOR.
Satt ihi^ler tbu ecki.
So lati As tbig
Heilan i haugi
Stm tbu bafir e/gi'
^irfing mei tbier..
frautter tbier adveiia
Arf Afigantyr
' Einka Barne,
JNGANrrR.
Seige ig thier^ Hewot
Tbad I'era mutir
Sa mutt Tirjingur
(Eftbu trua matter J
jEtt tbitttii nar
Jllre/piUa.
Muntu /on gietUf
Tbannjijdar mun
^irfing bafa^
Oc tru(i marger
Hann munu Hiidrek
Heita lyder.
HERFOR.
Eg o/kingi .
So virda dauda
Ad tbier t baled
Alldrey kyrrer^
Nema Angantyr
Seller mier Tirfingy
Hlyfum birttan^
fiialmars bana*
ANGANTTR.
f M^tr qued eg unga
MotMum Ujkm^
Er urn bauga
Huarlar a nottum^
Qrofnum geiri
Med gotta malum 9
Hialm oc hriniu
Fyri bedUr dyr.
HERra^R.
Madur thotter tbu.
Menjkur tilfbrna
Adur eg fall
Tdra tok kanna :
Sel ibu mier ur baugi .
Tban erJjatar brinju,
Duerga/midi :
Duger tbier ey ad leina^
ANGANTrR.
Liggur mier under berdum
Hialmars hani^
AUur er ban utan
Elldi fueipinn^
Mey <veit eg aungva
Molld a buorge
Er tban bior tbori
Hond i nema.
HERFOR.
Eg mkn birda
Oc i baund nema
Huajfan maki
Efeg bafa gnadi,
Elld hrenna tban
Er framlidnum jirdum
heikur uinfioner*
ANGANTTR.
• Heimjk ertu Hernjor
d by Google
[8?]
Hugar pigandif
Erthuadaugum
I elld brapavj
HeUduT 'Oil egfuerd thier
Selia ur baugi^
Mar en ungOy
Mun eg tbig ey leina,
[Tba 'var fuerd i bendi
Her^wroTy oc foadbvn:}
HERVOR.
Vel giorder tbu
Vikings nidur
Er tbu fender mier .
Suerd ur baugi :
Betur tbikiuMfl nu
Budlungur bafd
Enn eg Noreyge
Nade allre,
ANGANTTR.
Veiftu ey ad
Uppfol ertu
Malay fiarad kona
7 but tbufagnajkalt.
Sa mun firfingur
(Eftbu trua medurj
^tt tbinni nuer
Allrifpilla.
HERVOR,
Eg mun ganga
Til gialfur-mannai
Hier mun \ey m^tr
I bug godum.
Lift rceke eg tbad
Lofdunga i)inur
Huadjyner miner
Sijdan deila*
ANGANTTit.
Tbujkalt eiga
Oc unna leingi ;
Hafdu ad buldu
Hialmars bana^
Tahu ad eggiuMf
Eitur er i badum,
$a er mans matadur
Miklum verrin
HERVOR.
Eg Hmn birda
Oc i bound nema
Huaffan maki
Er mig bafa latid:
Ugge eg eye tbad,
Ulfa greinir,
Huadfyner miner
Sijdan telia^
ANGANTYR.
Far vel dotter^
Fliott gief eg tbier
Tolf manna jiory
Eftbu trua na^dir^
AJl oc eliom,
Alt bid go da
Erfyner Angryms
Epter leifdu.
HERVOR.
Bui tbier aller^
Burt mun egfkiotla^
Heiler i baugfi
Hiedanfyfer mig*
Helft tbottunff eg .
Heima i mille
Er mig umbuerfis
Elldar brunnu^
G 4 IK THE
,y Google
[ 88 J.
II.
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
O F T H E
Dying odeofRegnerLodbrog.
V. Litcratur. Runic. Olaj Wormij. Hafhiae 1636.
4to. p. 197.
B I A R K AM AL
SEM QRTE^REGNAR LOD^ROG,
JJfluggitm 'viirnudbioroi
^ Hittnjoraeifyrerlong^
JSr a Gautlande geinkum
At graf 'uitins morde
Tba/einkum 'user Thorn
Tbadau beitu mig fir dor
Er Hngaulum lag Jag
Lodbrok ad thui *vige
Stak eg aftorear lykin
Stale hiartra mala.
Hiuggum *vi^r med bicrpe
Helldur <uar ek unjur er
feingum
Auftur i Eirar Sunde
Vndarm frekum *varge
Ogfatgulum fugle
Fengum wr tbar er fungif
Fid hafeymda bialmd
Hard iam mikils «uerdar
Allur *9ar aegarfolUam
pd rafa i 'ualhlode.
Hiuggum n>iermedbior*ve
Hatt iarum tba geira
Er tuituger toldunft
Og tyr rudum lyda
Uunnum atta J aria
Auftur firer Tbinu minne
Kerafeigum tba gneka
Gifting ad thui 'uike
Sueitifiell i fi>llium
Sae tynde lid aefe,
Hiuggum *(fiermedhiorve
Hiedins kuonar ^vard audit
Tba er Heljinkin beimtum
Til beim/ala Odins
Lokdum uppi ivu
Oddur naade tha hyta
All *var unda gialfre
Afuer rodin beitu
Greniada hrandur i brynu
Benfilldur kWfu ftiylldi.
Hiuggum viermedbior-vt
flygg ek onguan thafi^de
Adur a hemlis beftum
Digitized by VjQOQIC
[89] V
fhraudur iftyrfielle
Klyfur ei aegis aundrum
Ailur Jarlinfaegre
hunda 'voll til loegis
A langjkipum fydan
Sa barfiklungur <vida
Snartfram iftyr hiarta.
Hiuggum <vier medhiorve
Her kaftade JkiaUdum
Tha er hraegagare rende
Reiftur ad gunna briofium
Beit i Skarfua Jkerium
Sbaerihildttr at hialdri
Rodinn *var randar mane
Adur Rafn kongur fielU
Dreifur bolda baufitm
Heitum a brynniur fueite.
Hiuggum fvier medhior^ve
Haft gatu tha rafnar
Fyrir Inyndiris etum
Aerna braad adjlyta
Fengum falu heftum
Fullann 'verd adfinne
lilt fvar eins cd geta
J upprunajolar
Sirenghaumlur /a egftinga
Stak almur afjier maalme,
Hiuggum 'vier medbioreve
Hett greniudu brottar
Adur a Vllar akre
Eifteinn kongur fielle
Geingum gulli Jaedur
Grandur <vals ad braundum
Hraekindil Jneid randa
Ritur ad biahna mote
Sniffi <virtur ur/arum
Sueif of fiarna kleifa*
Hiuggum *viermedbior*V€
Hofdum rendur i blode
Tba er bentbuera braeddum
Fyrer Borgundar bolme
Reggjkyjlitu rander
Rait almur afjier malme
Volnirfiell at vtge
Far at aei kongur meire
Val rak *vitt umftrandir
Vargur fagnade tafne,
Hiuggum vier medbior<ve
Hilldur <varfynt i vebfte
Adur Freyr kongur -fille
A Flemingia lande
Nade blaer ad byta
Blode fmelttur i gyltann
Hogna-kuji ad bialldre
Hardur bengrefill fordum
Maer griet margin Jkderu
Morg en tafngafft vorgum.
Hiuggum 'viermedbiorve
Hu/rdrudumfa eg liggia
A eireis aundrum
Thar Aeinglanes beitif
Sigldum 'vier tilfnaeru
Sebj daegur adur lid fielle
Allum cdda miffu
Fyrir uprunafolar
Far d fyrir njorum fuerdum
Valdiofur i ftyr bniga,
Hiuggum 'vier med-bior*ue
Hrunde dogg affuerdum
Bryn i Bardafyrde
Bleikan na fyrir hauka
Umde almur thar oddar
Allftrit bitujkyrtur
Adjlidur logafennu
yGoogk
[9o]
Sifolnis baite thaefdar
Jtende almur til unda ^
EiturhuM drifium/ueita,
Hiuggum 'viermedbiorve
Hielldum hlakar tiolldum
Hati ad hildur letke •
Tyrir Hiadmnga-'uage
Sia maittu fha/eggir
Erfuerd rifujkioldu
At hraefildur hialldn
HialmJUtnad ann gotna
Far at fern biarta brude
I bing hiajier leggia^
Hiuggum vier medbiorve
Hard kom brid afiioldum
Naer fall nidur til iardar
A Nordbumra-lande
Varat um ebia ettu
Olldum tborfatflya
Hilldar leik tbar er buajjer
Hialm-tun bitujkiomar
Far at /em unga ekkiu
J ondueige iyja.
Hiuggum vier medbior*ve
Hertbiofe 'vard audit
I futbur-eium Jialfum .
Sigurs a 'varum monnum
Vard i rauda regne
Raugnvalldur firir bniga
Sa kom baefiuryfur bauka
Harmur adfuerda leiki
Huaft kaflade brifter
Hialms Jlren^laugar palme.
Hiuggum njiermedbioT've .
Huorrla,tbuer['um,anan^ . *^
Gladur iiard geira brydur ' ;
Gaukur at fiurda Idkw -
Lift ei auru nieylge
Sa er Irlande ftyfde
Met 'oard mahns og rttdr
Mar ft an kongur faftm
Vard i Vtdra-firde
Faltafn gefit brafiu*
Hiuggum 'viermedbior'ue
Her marganfa eg f alia
Morgenpund Jyrir matker
Mann i oddafi/miu
Syne minmm bneit Jhemma
Slidra tbarn nnd biarta
Eigill liet Agnar raentann
Oilaudann bal fyfe
Glumde geyr vid Hamdes
Grannferk bliku merke,
Hiuggum 'viermedbiomje
Halldardafa eg prytia
Eke /matt fyrir ulfa
Endils nidar brandum
VaMt a nfikarfieide
Sem vinkanur baere
Hrodin *var aegis afne
Ofar i dyn gpra
Skarin <var fioglar^kapa
Att Skioldunga bialldre,
Hiuggum vier med biorve
Harfagrann fa eg rankua
Meiar dreng enn ummorgum
Og mahvin ekkiu
Varat fern uormar laugur
Finkiors niorun baere
Os i Ilafunde ^
Adur Auru kongur fieUe
> Blud mana fa eg brefta
Bra tbadfira life.
^r>'-\
JtizedbyGdo^Ie'
[91 1
Hiuggum 'oier medhiorvi
Itadumfuerds ad morde
heik a Lindis eire
Fid lofdunga tbreinna
Fair nadt thuifakna
Ft ell margur i gyrfuarge
flaukur JUit hoUd med ulfe
Adhann heillthadann kuae--
mifi
Jra blodi aege
Aeritfiell umjkiru,
Hiuggum vier medhiomje
Ha/uerd hitu Jkialldum
Tha er gullrodin glumde
Geir nid hildar naefre
Sia man i Onlugs eiu
Um atldur mega Jy dan
Thar er at logdis leikg
Lofdungar fram-geingu
Roditm var ut fyrir eire
Ar flugdreke Jara^
Hiuggum vier medhiorve
ffuad er dreugur ad feigre
Ad hun i odda ele
Ondurdur latinn uerdi
Oft fyter fa affe
Er alldrege nefter
lilt kueda org ann eggia
Auru adfuerda leike
Hughlaudum ketmur huorge
Hiarte Jit adgagne,
Hiuggum vier medhior've
Hit tel eg iafnt ad gauge
At famtoger fuerda
Sueinn i mote einupt
Hrokk<ue ei thegn fyrir
thegni
Tbad*uar drengs euUtl ldng9
Ae Jkal aftuinur meia
Einardttr i dyn fuerda,
Hiiiggum <vier medbiorve
Hittfiumft mier raunar
At forlogom fylgium
Faar geingurumfkop narpa
Aige hugdak Ellu
At aldur-lage minu
Tha er eg hlod'uale braedda
Og Iford a log keirdag
Vitt fengum tha 'varge
Verd i. Skotlauds fordum.
Hiuggum *vier medbior'Oi
Hit blaeger mig iafnam
Tbad BalldurfAdur bekie
Buna veit eg atfumlum
Drekum moK ad hragJe
Ur piuk*vidum haufd
Syter ei dt^engur <vid dauda
Pyrs ad Fiolins hufum
Ei kem ek med eidru
Ord till Vidris ballar.
Hiuggum njier medbiortfe
Hier uilldu nu aller
Burer Aflaugar hrandum
Bitrum hillde vekkia
Ef fvandlige ^iffe
Um *vidfarar offar
Hue o-faer ormar
Eitur follir mig flyta
Modernis fek eg minum
Maugum fuo at biartum.
Hiuggum *oier medbiorve
Hardla lidi$r at arfue
,y Google
[92]
Grimt ftendur grand af
ntidru
Goinn bigger ftd hiarta
Vaentumhins ad Vidris
Vandur i Bllu blode
Sonum minum munefuella
Sin modur rodinn *vzrda
Ei >munu fnarper fueinar
Seti kyrt *vira lata*
Hiuggtim iner med hior*ve
Uef eg fimtigum Jinna
Folk qrvftur framdar
FUindings bode og etna
Minfl hugde eg manna
Af mier 'Otrafiyllde
Ungur nam eg odd at rioda
Annar kongttr fremre
&s numu Aefar bioda
Er eijytande daude.
Fyfumfi bins at baetta
Heimbiode mier Djfir
Semfra Herians ballu
He fur Odinn mier fendar
Gladurjkaleg Ol med AfnM
I pnd'uege dreka
Lift eru lidnarftunder
Laegiande Jkal eg deia.
III.
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
O F T H E
Ransome of Egill the Scald.
V. Litcratur. Runic. Olaj Wormij Hafniae 1636.
4to. p. 227.
HO FU D L 4U S ri
ElGlLS SCaiAGRYMS SONAR ISLANDSK KAPPA.
I. Viifa.
lyEftur kom eg urn *ver
'^ Enn eg Vidris ber
Munfirindar mar
So er mitt offar
Dro eg eik a fiot
VidJfabrot
Hlod eg maerdar liit
Minis knarrar Jkut.
IL
Bydunft bilmer hlod
Nn a eg hrodrar quod
Ber eg Odins miod
A Eingla beod
Lofat 'viifa 'vann
Vyft maere eg dann
Hliods bidium hann
Duiat hrodur of fann^
ly Google
[93 3
ffygg 'oiifp' at
Velfomer that
Hue eg thyliafai
Efeg thogn of 'gat
Flefiur madur of-fra
Huadjylker 'oa
Enn vidrer fa
Huar valur um ia^
IF.
Ox bior*va blom
Fid hlyfar drom
Gudur 'VOX urn gram
Gramur fogte fram
Thar beirdift tba
Tbaut maekirs a
Malmbfydar ffa
Su er nuft of la.
Far at willufiadar
Fefur daradar
Of grams ghtdar
Geir *vangs radar
Than i blode
I brimla mode
Flaufler of drunde
Und um glumde
t Stcf.
Hme fir da fit
Fidfieinahnit
Ordfiyr of gat
Eirikur at that
Nb hefir aanat Stafiamal.
Eremwr mun eg ftigtm
Effirdar theikid
Fragum fieira .
Tilframa their a
Aiftuft under
Fid iofurs f under
Bruftu hrander
Fid blar rander,
II.
Hlam brynfoduU
Fid biaJmroduU
Beit henkrefill
Tbad *var blodrefill
Fra eg ad felle
Firerfetih fueUe
Qdins eike
I iam kike
Annad 4af.
Tba Ofar odda-at
I eggia gnat
Ordtyr of gat
Eirekur at that
ThrMia ftefiamal. -
/.
Raud hibner bior
That *var brafa-agior
Fleinn hit te far
' Flugu dreyrugjpior
01 Flagds gota
Tharhiodur fkota
Trad nift Nara
.Nattuerd ara.
II.
Flugu hialldurs tranar
Um biors lanetr
Faru blode vekat
yGoogk
t94)
^enmal-grxuuur
Tha ir oddhrekkt
Sliit und'frekc
GniitU brafm
O hufudiafne
Thridic ftefi
Kom grydar Jkiae
A galfrar lae
Baud ulfur brae
Eirikur umfac
Fiof da flefiaqAaL
/.
Beit JUnu flogivn
Tha 'uarfridur log tun
Far almur dreiginn
Thui *uare ulfur feigitih
Bruftu broddar
Bitu oddar
Baru hor*var
Afbokum or*var
IL
Verpwr broddjiete
Med baugfete
Hiorleik huati
Hann er blodjkati
^hroaft bier fern buar
Hugat maele eg tbar
Freitt er auftur urn mar
Eireks op far
Florda fief;
Jofur fueigder
Hrunu unda br
Baud ulfum brae
Eirikur um foe
Fimta flpSamaU
/.
Enn mun eg fuilia
Era litrium JkiUa
Skafieik fiata
Skal maerd buaut
Laetur fnot-fitka
Um fud fri vBha
EnnfkersAka
Bhfdgeirs braka
JJ.
Brytur bqg buit4
Biodur bram thuU4
Muna bodd'Ofa
Hring briotar hf$.
Gladdift fio^ajol
Vid froda miol
Miok er bilme fd
Haukftrandar moL
III.
^todftfolkugi
Firerjior Uige
Gall r boge
Ad eggtoge
Verpur af brondam
Enn Jofur lodum
tielldur Hornklofi •
Hann er naefiur lofi
Alyktan dr^uniut^
JofUr eigge at
Hue eg dyliaffit
Gott dottunft tbat
Er eg th^gn ofgai '
Hraerda eg munne
Af munar gruntu
Odim aege a Jorufoigi
yGoogk
[95]
Sar tg thdHpls hf
A thagnar mf
Kan eg tnaela miot
I matma fi§t
Or hUara ham
Hreubirier eg gram
Sa for thdt from
Ad JUftur Qpnam
Na fylger ofkan a efter
Niota bauga
Sem brage auga
Vagna 'vara
Edur *vile tara^
IV.
/^
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
OF THE
Funeral Song of Ha con.
V. Snprro Sturlefon Jlift. Regum Septentrion. foL
pag. 163.
H A C O N A R MA L
** Eyvindur ^alldafpillir ortt quatbi eitt urn fall Ha-*
eonar icngs, oc fua that huerfo honum var fagnat i Val*
holl\ that era koihtt tiA CONAR MAL, dc er thettd
upphaf:* Snorro SiurUf Htfi.
QAu^ul ok Skogul
^ Sendi Gauta Tjr
At khfa um ionga^
Huer Tngtua <:-ittar^
SfyM mih Otbnifa^at
I lualholl at *vera.
Brvthwr fwtdo thser BU
omar
t Briniofara
^Kong hinn koxfamay
Kominn und Qunmfana,
Drupto Dolgatf
Enn Darrathur hriftiz
Vpp 'var tha iyldur ofhd^
Jinn,
^ Het a Haley gi^
Sems a Halmrhygi^
J aria Einbaniy
For til Orqfto,
Gott haft hi hinn gauf^
Gei^g$ Northmanna^
Eythir eythana
Stoth und Ar-hialm,
Hrauthz or Kerrvathomi
yGoogk
[96]
Hratt a 'ooU Brymo,
Vifi *uertbungar^
Atbur til Vigs t^ki,
Lik njith Liothmaugo^
Skyltbi land njirja^
Gramur birm gfatb^eri,
Stotb und GuUhialm.
Sua beit tba Suertb,
Or Mlings Hindi,
Vatbir Vafatbar,
Sem i Vatni brigtbi,
Brokotbo Bretbtbar,
Bretnotbo SAildir,
Glumrotbo GfymringOTf
I Gotna Haufom^
Trantbboz ^aur^uf,
Fyrir Tys ok Bauga,
Hiaha Hartbfotom,
Haufi Nortbmanna,
Roma 'uartb i Eyjo,
Ruibo Kongar,
Skirar Skiald borgiri
Iftatna Blotbii
Bnmuo Bineld^t
I blotbgom undo/Ht
Litja Lang-bartbar,
At Litba Fior<ui^
Suaratbi fargymir
A fuertba nefi ^ '
Fell fiotb fleina,
I Jioro Stortbar.
Bientbuz intb tot^mr,
Vutbir Rantbar Himnif*
Skcglar vetbur ^
Leko vi^bjkys um bauga,
UmtboX^tbtblar
1 Otbins vifbiN,
H^g margt Maunai
Fyri M^kis Sira
Sato tba DogUngar^
Metb Suertb miUoginn^
Metb fcartba Sciokboi
Oc fcotnan Bryi^or,
Vara fa Herr^
I Hugom,
Er atti til FalbaUar wgdi
Gauntbul tbat tfUeUtif
Studdiz Geir jfcapti^
VeK nu Geingi Gotbo,
Er Hdconi bafa,
Metb Her micinn, '
Heimbautb umboibiii
Vifir that btfrthi
tiudtb Falfyrior,
M^tlto marar,
Af MarsBakii
Hyggilega leto,
Oc bialmatbarjfotbop
Oc boftboz HIi/ar/or.
Icon)
Hvi tbufua (fuatb Ha-
Gunni Sciptir,
Geirfcaugol fuorofHf [tboati
Tbo vertbor gagns fir a Go*
Ver tbui tfoulltboilt (fuatb
Scaugol)
Er tbu <velk bellz
Etin tbinir fiantbur Jb^i-
Ritba wit nu fctikm^
^aib bin rikaScaugpk
Grona Heima Gotbof
Otbni at feiga
d by Google
[97 J
Her mun All^allthur koma^
X)c baniifialfann atfia,
Hermothor oc Bragi\
^uatb Hropta Tyr^
Gangit i gogn Grami,
Thui at Kongur ftr fd^
Er Kappi thickir^
Til Hollar binnig
Rtefir tbat,malhli
'Farfra Romo kominn^
Stoib allur i drora drifinn ;
lUuibigurmioCy . .
Thykir ofs Otbinn ntera^
Slam ver urn bann bugu
Einberia Griiby
Tbu /calk allra bafdy
tbigg tbu at Afum Ol
J aria Bagi
^bu aft inni ber
Atta Brotbur, quatb oragi.
Gertbar varar^
^atb binngotbi Aongur,
Viljom ver fialfar bafd,
Hialm oc Brynio
iSjcal byrtha *velf
Gott er til Geirs at tacd^
Tba tbat iytitbiss, .
Hue fa kottgur baftbi^
Velof tbyrmt Veom^
Er Hacon batbo,
Heilann kema^
Ratb oil oc RegittHm
. Gotbodogri
Vertburja Gramur urn ho^
rinjiy
Br fer gttur Jlican/efa, •
Hanns alldar^ y
Ae mun 'vera*
At got bo getit.
Mun ohuntbinttf
A yta Siotf
Fenris Ul/ur fara^
Atbur iafn gotbur
A autba trantb^
Kongs Mat bur komi»
Deyrfe
Deyia frantbur
Eytbiz Land oc Latbf
Sizt Hacony
Metb Heytbin Gotb,
Morg er tbiotb urn tbiatbi
[A different copy of part of the above poem, con-
taining many variations, may be found in Bartholin's
Cau/a contempts a J>anis mortis. Lib. 2. Cap. 11. p.
520.3
H
V- THE
.Digitized by VjOOQIC
[9^3
V.
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
OF THE
Complaint of Harold,
V. Bartholin, de caafis contemptae a Danis mortis.
Hafuiae 1689. pag. ^54.
•* / tbeffkm ferdum orti Haralldr gamanvi/ur^ ek er»
xnyfamoHf ck titt nUrlag at ellom, tbo ero her far rit-
nar." " KjiitlingaSagm.
VNeU firzr Sikeby 'vtda
V Sud *vamm tha prudir
Brunn ftreid fvel til *vanar
ViHgis bi9ffir und drengium
Vatti ek midr at mottt
Muni enn thannig renna
Tho l4ttr gerdr i gordum
GoUbrings midmerjkolla
Fundr var thefs at tbrandir
fTheir hofdu lidmeira
Vqrdfu er 'oer ofgiordwt^
Vift erriligfmtird
Skildumz, ungr 'vid ungan
All valid iftyrfaUirm
I'ba letgerdr i gordum
GoUbrings *vidmerJkolla,
Senn iojum *verjuanna
Sextan tha erbrin niexti
Dreifa hladna bufa
^m iforum rumum
Fietti ek minnr at motti
Muni enn tbinnig nenna
Tbo latrgerdr i gordum
GoUbrings <vidmerJkolla^
Itbrettir kann ek atta
Ygs fit ek lid at fimda
F^rr er ek Irvaft a hefti
Hefik/und numitftundum
Skrtda kann ek ajkidum
Skyt ek ok rak f<oa at nyiir
Tbp httr gerdr i gordum
GoUbrings 'vidmerJkoUa.
Enn munat Eckia
Ung ne mar at varim
Thar er giordum/uip/uerda
Sudr i horg urn margin.
RuddumK urn med oddi
Eru merki tkar tjerka
Tbo latr gerdr i gffrdusst
^ GoUbrings yidmer^oUa.
,y Google
[99 3
F^ddr varek thar alma
XJpplenJingar henalu*
Nu lat ek vid Jker Jkolla
Skeidr bummpnum leidar
Vitt hefi ek Jtxt ytum
Eigardjkotid 6ar4i
Tho Uetr gerdr i gordum,
Gollf^Ki»g5 *vtdmerJko]la^
THE ISLANDIC ORIGINAL
of the VERSES guoted pag. lo.
^^Bitb ofur capp,
Auflur kong'ay
Sigafs iOf
Mr eynar'Tngva^
Menglaututh
^ith meitb reitbo,
Oc nareithur
A nefe druther^
Binga fneithuKf
- Thar er <vikur detlir :,
Thar er Fiolkunnur^
Urn fylkis hror,
^teine merktur^
Siraumejiar nee,
Snorro Sturls. Hift. p. 28.
THE ISLANDIC ORIQINAL
of the VERSES quoted pag. 8o-
Tafl em ek aurr at, efia^
Jthrottir kann ek niu^
Tyni ek tradla runum,
Tider mer hok, ek/mider.
Skn'da kfiftn ek ajkidum^
Skyt ekt ok rafuo nytir,
huort*veggia kann ek hyggiu
HarpJIatt ok brag thatta.
OL Wor. Lit. Run; "p. 1 29. Btri, Qauf. &c. p. \.%o.
yGoogk
A D D I ^ 1 » to pages 9, tS.
Since the foregoing (heets were print-
ed .off we have met with a paflage in
Olaus Wornaiius's Monumenta Danorum^
which feems to clear up the difficulty.
This accurate writer, obferves that it
•was the general practice with the ancient
l^anes to bury their dead in open plains
under hillocks of earth, which they fre-
quently alfo furrounded with circl^? of
large ftones : yet acknowledges that in-"
ftead of ftones thefe^ larrows or tUmuli
are fometimes found incircled with large
trees, difpofed with, great exadlnefs; and
that thefe are fuppofed to be the fepul-
chres of kings. — *^ Interim dijtmuk^ noh
poffumy colles et tumulos eju/modi etiam in
planis reperiri, grandibus undique in coro^
nam cinBos arboribusy fagis, quercubuSf
aliifque lapidum vices fujiinentibus^ jiudio
et afte elegant er difpofitis : in quibus re^
gum humata ejfe cadavera creduntJ*
Mon. Dan, Hafn.1643. folio, p. 38,-
FINIS.
Digitized l?y VjOOQIC
d by Google
. }
^
d by Google
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